Gary was born on Nov. 5, 1944, in Niskayuna, the son of Harold Kretzer and Lois Earls (Kretzer) Decker.

Gary was brought up in Ticonderoga. He moved to Granville when he was around 20 and worked for Crandall’s Flowers in Middle Granville before going to work at Telescope Casual Furniture. He retired from Telescope after 40 years of service.

Gary was a very active and giving person. He made himself available to anyone who needed a helping hand. He had a passion for any type of fishing whether it was lake fishing, ice fishing or deep sea fishing. He also was an avid deer hunter and died in the woods while trying to get the “big one.” He also enjoyed playing bingo.

Gary was a member of the Truthville Baptist Church, where he served a few terms as a trustee. He was a former member of the North Granville Hose Company and the Boothbay Sportsman Club in Ticonderoga.

Gary was predeceased by his parents, a stepfather, Theodore Decker, and his siblings, Harold Kretzer Jr. and Craig Kretzer.

Survivors are his wife, Darlene (Hall) Kretzer, whom he married on June 17, 1967. Also surviving are a son Marc D. Kretzer Sr. and his wife, Patty; two daughters, Rebecca S. Kretzer and partner Christian Hansen of Granville, and Cynthia M. Kretzer of Greenwich; a grandson, Marc D. Kretzer Jr. of Granville; and his mother, Shannon DeKalb. In addition he is survived by a sister, Sandra Holman and her husband, Fred, of Dresden; two aunts, Jean Pokrzywka and her husband, Stanley, of Burnt Hills and Shirley Scheuer of Ballston Spa; a brother in-law, Milton Hall and his wife, Sandy, of Hebron; and two sisters-in-law, Martha Hall and Linda Hall, both of Granville; as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins. Also surviving him are his fishing and hunting buddies, Ken Hoyt of Truthville, Dick Caren of Middle Granville, Jim Carruth of Granville and Doug Dennison of Granville and his auction buddy, Dick Myers of West Granville.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, Dec. 4, at 11 a.m. at the Truthville Baptist Church with the Rev. Kevin Gebo officiating. Burial will follow in the Bethany Cemetery. Friends may call on Friday, Dec. 3, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Robert M. King Funeral Home, 23 Church St., Granville.

Memorial contributions may be made in Gary’s memory to the Truthville Baptist Church, P.O. Box 157, North Granville, N.Y. 12854 or to the North Granville Hose Co.